Page 30 of A Second Chance

“Better?” he asked, not moving or acting like he registered her hands on him.

“Yeah,” she replied, her hands, working independent from her brain, moved up his shoulders and down his biceps. He may no longer be military, but the man remained in shape. His hands stayed on the small of her back, and it impressed her that at no point had they wandered. Unable to say the same thing about her wandering hands, she removed them.

“How about we play more games and then see if you’re ready for that food I promised?”

Gwen stepped out of his arms. “And don’t think you’re getting out of it, either.”

“I don’t want to get out of it.”

She walked down to the big tent, a sign on the outside announced bingo night and game times. “Let’s go to bingo.”

“Bingo? We will be like twenty years younger than everyone else.”

“I will be. You’re already north of thirty.” Gwen continued into the tent and heard him laughing behind her. Tonight, was veering into dangerous territory, he was so sweet, funny, and… sexy.

“One ticket per bingo card,” the lady with short tight curls and cat sweater behind the table said.

“Oh, do you have any more?” she asked as Jason handed over two tickets.

“Yes, north of thirty is prepared.” He flashed a grin and took two bingo cards. “But those are the last two, so hope it’s worth it.”

Gwen laughed, picked up two daubers, and they found a table. She handed him a dauber and his hand lingered on hers. “Let’s win,” she said.

“What’s the prize?”

“Not a clue.”

“I see you’ve thought this through.”

“Not a bit, but this evening has been entirely unexpected.” She leaned forward, her elbow on the table and, resting her head in her hand, she couldn’t help but smile.

He faced her and mirrored her pose. “A pleasant surprise?”

“Yeah.”

The surrounding chairs were filling up and chatter rose, but neither of them moved. His brown eyes moved from hers to her lips. That meant he wanted to kiss. From prior experience, she recalled that it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, that it was incredible. Gwen leaned toward him and he met her in the middle, pressing his lips to hers. Her breath caught in her chest for a beat.

“Hey lovebirds, there’s only bingo in here,” someone yelled.

They broke apart, she grimaced. “Apparently there’s only bingo in here.”

“That’s very short-sighted of them.”

She took in his smile and one of her own spreading.

The bingo proceedings began and Gwen concentrated on the person calling the numbers rather than Jason’s leg bumping against hers under the table.

They left the bingo tent, Gwen carrying the gift basket of bath products she’d won on her first-ever game of bingo.

“Let’s go over to the food trucks,” she said.

“We need to get out of here,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. “Did you see the evil-eye those old women were giving you?”

“You’re kidding… right?” Gwen glanced back to find many glares staring back from the tent. He wasn’t joking – those women were giving off serious stink eye. “The food trucks might be far enough away. They’re not leaving anytime soon.”

He smiled. “Come on. Let’s at least put your basket in the truck, so you don’t have to carry it around.” At the truck, he turned back, “You sure you don’t want to go somewhere else for dinner? I’m buying, remember?”

“Yeah, I remember. I’m fine with here.”

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